This month we expand “Looks at Books” to ask, “Is MCO, traditionally referred to as ‘the chess player’s bible,’ still of value in a computerized, database world?” The 2007 U.S. champion tests the book in depth and says, “Yes!”

What do a financial analyst, a philosophy professor, a Google code writer and a handful of poker players have in common? In the 1990s, quite a lot—they used to be the nascent stars of American chess. Just where exactly did they go and why did their chess careers end?

Specialist Jhonel Baniel of the Army Medical Department defeats Air Force surgeon Dr. (Colonel) Sam Echaure in the last round of the 2008 U.S. Armed Forces Interservice Chess Championship to secure top military chess honors.